Asking Smart Questions

By Dr. Jacqueline Frischknecht & EllaMarie Schroeder

Determine what kind of question-asker you are and then learn what kinds of questions to ask and when from among 35 different types. Discover how to change the “climate” in your classroom so students will be ready to respond to various types of questions. You both will become more effective communicators. Good questions create excitement in the learning process and help produce good answers by stimulating thinking on many levels; exploring new ways of viewing old ideas; sharing existing attitudes, values or ideas; and stimulating group discussion. Learn to model positive questioning behavior; assess your questioning skills and learn how to improve them.

By Tressa Decker and Kay Davidson

The authors present over 60 unit activities at the primary and intermediate (K-6th) levels in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Accompanying each unit are questions at each of the 6 levels of the Taxonomy—over 360 lower and higher level questions! Your classroom will buzz with activity with kids moving full-speed ahead with projects, research, and the acquisition of skills. Creativity is discussed with over 65 examples in the 4 content areas of products to use in place of student worksheets.

by Diana Brigham, Jessica Fell, Constance Simons, Kathy Strunk & Anthony Yodice

Looking for innovative, successful and engaging units to use in your gifted elementary classroom or pull-out program? Look no further than Units of Instruction, the latest in Prufrock’s collection of easy-to-apply units for the classroom. The five units of study in this book cover everything from elementary geometry, to a study of slavery, to the inclusion of a media unit in the social studies curriculum. Worksheets, handouts, answer keys, and teacher guides are included with every lesson, making this book an efficient, easy-to-use part of classroom.

By Janis Silverman

Students discover a unique way to determine the fine line between "doing wrong" and "crime." They "study" character education by "doing" using fairy tales and simulating investigation and trials. The activities challenge students as they use all language arts skills: critical reading, analytical thinking and writing, speaking and drama. Engage students in cooperative teamwork to create each case, to work as prosecution and defense teams, as well as to deliberate and make decisions.

By Janis Silverman

The original FAIRY TALES ON TRIAL includes Peter Rabbit, Emperor’s New Clothes, Goldilocks, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Puss in Boots, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White, Three Pigs, and Three Billy Goats Gruff. “ADVANCED” FAIRY TALES include The Tinder Box, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Two Bad Mice, Toads and Diamonds, The Gingerbread Boy, The Bremen Town Musicians, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Aladdin and the Wonderful lamp, and The Hare and the Hedgehog. Includes Criminal Behavior chart, Trial Roles, Trial Procedure, Opening, Closing and Legal Argument Forms, and Pre and Post Trial questions.

Kingore Observation Inventory (Koi)

By Bertie Kingore, Ph.D.

The revised and expanded KINGORE OBSERVATION INVENTORY (KOI) increases teachers’ effectiveness in identifying and differentiating instruction for students with gifted potentials by: providing an ongoing series of enriched learning opportunities to all students that elicit advanced potentials; clarifying students’ response patterns to look for over time; and implementing standards for observations and student products that document teachers’ insights about their students to other educators. This easy-to-implement process helps teachers immediately initiate appropriate differentiation in the classroom for students whose learning responses exceed the expectations of the core curriculum.

STANDARDS-BASED ACTIVITIES & ASSESSMENTS FOR THE DIFFERENTIATED CLASSROOM

Book & CD-ROM for MAC or PC

By Carolyn Coil

“How do we teach Standards-Based education to All students?” Differentiation is the Answer. One strategy, one style, and one assessment do NOT “Fit All.” Standards-based Activities & Assessments provides you with a practical, proven resource . She provides 3 of the most-used Instructional Formats for Differentiation & 49 ready-to-use Differentiated Topic Lessons/Units that include 100’s of activities such as Book Characters, Animals, Civil War, Early Settlers, Geography, Oceans, Space Exploration, Weather, & more topics! This book also includes Specific Activity Assessment Criteria and step-by-step guidelines for writing differentiated activities.

Projects & Presentations for K–6 Students
Preparing Kids to Be Confident, Effective Communicators

By Phil Schlemmer, M.Ed., and Dori Schlemmer 

Build children’s proficiency in oral and written communication, promote social and emotional learning (SEL), and differentiate instruction. Students research and present topics to their peers with this kids-teaching-kids approach to differentiated, project-based learning. Projects & Presentations for K–6 Students includes 15 “openings”, based on core curricula, each one completely self-contained and ready to use. Also includes 12 “starter openings,” simpler projects that require no research so students can focus on learning and practicing presentation skills.

Creating Portfolios

Martin Kimeldorf

Portfolios are increasingly present in schools today. in some school districts, they are being mandated into the curriculum. Creating Portfolios helps students to produce meaningful, useful portfolios for a variety of purposes. The student book leads them through a series of exercises that result in a finished, focused portfolio.

By Dr. Karen Meador

Make these 12 standards-based learning centers an integral part of your instruction, providing enrichment or a learning place where students go after completing or compacting out of their work. Differentiation is accomplished by tiering – varying student resources and materials, adjusting the level of thinking, required, changing the product, or modifying the objective. These tiered activities provide for various ability levels in math, language arts, science and social studies and higher levels of critical and creative thinking.

You're Smarter Than You Think:
A Kid's Guide to Multiple Intelligences

By Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.

Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences has revolutionized the way we think about being smart.  Written by an award-winning author and leading expert on multiple intelligences, this book helps kids make the most of their own learning strengths.  In clear, kid-friendly language, this book introduces Gardner's theory, explains the eight intelligences, and describes 22 ways to develop each one.  Kids learn how to use the intelligences in school, strengthen them at home, and draw on them to plan for the future.

WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?
Leaders Guide CD-ROM

By Elizabeth S. Foster-Harrison, Ed.D.

Here it is! More of those exciting energizers and icebreakers that were in such demand in the author’s first book—ENERGIZERS & ICEBREAKERS. All of the activities in this book are new, developed to enhance the learning environment in your class or group. With MORE ENERGIZERS & ICEBREAKERS you will increase the activity level and participation of all involved. These activities can be used with all ages.

By Elizabeth Sabrinsky Foster, Ed.D.

Instill motivation for your group through understanding, trust and excitement! Create interest in your classroom through involvement, motivation and interaction. ENERGIZERS & ICEBREAKERS will en-hance orientation sessions, as well as increase effectiveness in “getting to know you” activities. Group cohesion will strengthen as you implement the myriad of energizers presented in this book. Try it! You’ll find every age and stage will ask for more.

RTI Success
Proven Tools and Strategies for Schools and Classrooms

By Elizabeth Whitten, Ph.D., Kelli J. Esteves, Ed.D., and Alice Woodrow, Ed.D. 

What is Response to Intervention (RTI) and how can it benefit your school? Find out in RTI Success, an all-in-one resource that provides information on this innovative model as well as step-by-step administrator guidelines and practical teacher tools for implementation. Features of the book include: 100+ teacher-friendly, research-based strategies; “What to Try When” charts; Tools for differentiating instruction; Ready-to-use assessments and educational profiles for documentation; 50+ reproducible forms for streamlined implementation, progress monitoring, and tier movement.

90 Instructional Strategies for the Classroom

By Janet Aaker Smith

90 activities, games, and puzzles engage students in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and the use of language conventions – spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation. Use the strategy as is or adapt the strategy for a particular subject or theme. Students use critical thinking skills to research and analyze information, compare and contrast, solve problems and evaluate solutions in these brain-compatible activities – Venn Again, PMI, Classifier, Logic Puzzles, Paired Problem Solving, Mystery Messages. Other activities: SCAMPER, Daffynitions, Analogies, Wuzzles, and Oughtographs, are open-ended and stimulate creative thinking.

Teaching Tools for the 21st Century

By Carolyn Coil

New and experienced teachers need the best teaching tools to meet the needs of students entering the 21st century. This book presents "tools" to success to use to teach creatively, tools to provide for different Learning Styles. Learning Modalities, the Taxonomy, Multiple Intelligences, Assessment, Cultural Diversity, Inclusions. Gifted Education, Conflict, Parent/Teacher Collaboration; and discusses the role of technology. Her lesson plan formats are essential for teaching the whole child.

Creating More Creative People Book II

By Anne Crabbe & George Betts

Most educators believe in protecting the creative thinking of our children but do not know how to go beyond fluency, flexibility, elaboration, and originality. By reviewing the work of E. Paul Torrance, Anne Crabbe and George Betts developed a model which includes the attitudes and abilities which foster creative thinking. Creating More Creative People Book II features dozens of exciting activities designed to promote creative thinking and creative people.

Growing Good Kids

By Deb Delisle & Jim Delisle

Creative and fun activities build students' skills in problem solving, decision making, cooperative learning, divergent thinking, communication, and more, while promoting self-awareness, tolerance, character development, and service to others. Teachers will turn to Growing Good Kids whenever they need a meaningful and enjoyable enrichment activity. Students create books, write stories, resolve to help others, consider the character traits of successful leaders, explore their own values, and more. All activities are step-by-step and classroom-tested; many include extensions and variations for use in the classroom, at home, and in the community.

The Survival Guide for Teachers of Gifted Kids:
How to Plan, Manage, and Evaluate Programs for Gifted Youth K-12

By Jim Delisle, Ph.D. & Barbara A. Lewis

Being a gifted education teacher has always posed special challenges. This book gives gifted teachers the information, advice, and encouragement they need. It explains how to set the foundation for gifted program; how to evaluate, identify, and select students; how to differentiate the regular curriculum for gifted kids (with lesson samples); and how to extend or enrich the content areas.

Teaching Beyond The Test
Differentiated Project-Based Learning in a Standards-Based Age, Grades 6 & Up

By Phil Schlemmer, M.Ed., and Dori Schlemmer 

This practical classroom resource presents dozens of strategies for differentiation among learners (flexible grouping, choice boards, tiered assignments, and more) and a range of fully developed content-focused projects, each modeling one or more differentiation strategies. All projects are aligned with rigorous, comprehensive content standards in the areas of English/language arts, math, social studies, and science. Designed for use by any teacher, in any classroom, in any school. Includes reproducibles. Included CD-ROM (for Macintosh and Windows) features all reproducibles plus four bonus projects.

Quick & Lively Classroom Activities
Meaningful Ways to Keep Kids Engaged During Transition Time, Downtime, or Anytime

By Linda Nason McElherne, M.A.

Make the most of every moment in the classroom. These brief, meaningful, enjoyable activities are perfect for 15- to 20-minute periods during the school day. 260 activities are grouped into 52 themes: My Special Talent, Celebrating Differences, Imagining My Future, Showing My Art and Soul, and more. Each includes an inspiring quotation, discussion questions, an affirmation, and resources. Includes 53 reproducible handout masters. Previously titled Jump Starters. Included CD-ROM is for PC and Macintosh.

Helping Gifted Children Soar:
A Practical Guide for Parents and Teachers

By Carol A. Strip with Gretchen Hirsch

This user-friendly guidebook educates parents and teachers about important gifted issues such as working together, evaluating classroom programs, forming parent support groups, choosing appropriate curriculum, meeting social and emotional needs, surviving the ups and downs, and much more!  The information and useful advice provided make this book an idea resource both for those just starting out in the gifted field as well as those who are seasoned veterans.

Teambuilding With Teens
Activities for Leadership, Decision Making, & Group Success

By Mariam G. MacGregor M.S.

Leadership isn’t just for a chosen few. All teens can practice the skills and attitudes leaders use. The 36 hands-on activities in this book each take 20-45 minutes. Kids are called on to recognize each other’s strengths, become better listeners, communicate clearly, identify their values, build trust, set goals, and more. This book can be used as a supplement to Building Everyday Leadership in All Teens or on its own.

MYSTERY RIVER

By Mark A. Bohland

This unit introduces students to a serious problem—the fictional town of Hopewell’s prized freshwater mussel population I dying out, and the town’s leading citizens cannot figure out why. Your students will take charge of the situation. This book includes detailed guidelines for conducting problem-based learning units in the classroom, along with memos, observation charts, newspapers, maps, and everything else your students will need in their investigations. Teaching science and critical thinking has never been this easy and enjoyable!

Independent Study:
New, Expanded Edition with CD

By Dodie Merritt

Rekindle the excitement of learning and build self-esteem through independent study of student choice! Here are the management tools you need to differentiate products, process, and content to meet individual students needs (and not lose your mind!) as they move from structured independence to shared independence to self-guided learning. Great for 4th grade +

Motivating Underachievers
(with cd-rom)

By Carolyn Coil

This edition is jammed with workable, practical strategies to manage and solve the problem of underachievement in all learners. Strategies address self esteem, study skills, time management, organizational skills, test taking tips, intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, how to work with parents, and how to work within the school environment.

The Cluster Grouping Handbook:
A Schoolwide Model

By Susan Winebrenner, M.S. & Dina Brulles, Ph.D. 

In today’s standards-driven era, this book shows how can teachers motivate and challenge gifted learners and ensure that all students reach their potential. It presents a roadmap for implementing, sustaining, and evaluating schoolwide cluster grouping. Practitioners will find a wealth of teacher-tested classroom strategies along with detailed information on identifying students for clusters, gaining support from parents, and providing ongoing professional development.

WARM UPS AND WIND DOWNS

By Sandra Peyser Hazouri & Miriam Smith McLaughlin

101 activities for beginning, energizing, and closing groups of all ages are presented in a clear and concise manner. Counselors, teachers, and group leaders are stimulated to approach each new group session with a freshness that will encourage productivity and creativity. WARM UPS & WIND DOWNS includes activities that will appeal to every age group, and they require little or no preparation.

RESEARCH WITHOUT COPYING

by Nancy Polette

RESEARCH WITHOUT COPYING provides step-by-step strategies for research projects that require using information rather than copying. Specific product models for students to use in reporting research are provided.

Research Without Copying For Primary Grades

By Nancy Polette

Make “research reports” fun! Teach patterns as products, preventing students from copying material into a written or oral report. After a teacher demonstration, students begin their research, investigating such topics as animals, Nature, people, and places. Students will create songs, chants, riddles, stories and poems. Resources are recommended. Over 35 reproducibles.

The Research Book For Gifted Programs K-8

By Nancy Polette

A detailed, practical discussion of Thinking Skills and Research Skills precedes 100s of ready-to-reproduce activities for primary, intermediate, and middle school students. The Research Skills Taxonomy checklist helps teachers manage student skill levels before they proceed with suggested activities. Resources students use include the dictionary, encyclopedia, Internet, atlas, and almanac.

THE RESEARCH PROJECT BOOK

By Nancy Polette

Over one hundred models for students to use in reporting their research on a topic in new, exciting, and divergent ways are presented. No more copying from the encyclopedia! Students are exposed to highly creative ways of reporting research which are easy to use, yet stimulate analysis of information. This book has been revised and expanded to include the former title, BIOGRAPHY REPORTS WITHOUT COPYING.

By Nancy Polette

Blunder or Brainstorm presents not only fact and fiction statements, but also offers an original limerick for each of the inventors. From Archimedes to the Wright Brothers, Alexander Graham Bell to Alfred Nobel. Students learn about the first friction match, the first computer program, the first car, Velcro®, Coca-Cola,® Smith Brothers’® Cough Drops, Colt’s revolver and more. Great for just reading or to stimulate socialstudies research.

By Nancy Polette

What do the stories of these famous people tell us about persistence, perseverance, resolve, determination, achievement, accomplishment, victory and success? Enjoy the humor of the cariactures - writers, entertainers, musicians, sports figures, inventors, scientists, presidents, and military and world leaders, and discover how life experience influenced their successes.

By Nancy Polette

Did Molly Pitcher hide in a well when bullets flew during the Battle of Monmouth? Could Sacagawea, the interpreter for Lewis and Clark, speak English? What did Jacqueline Cochran, Bessie Coleman, and Amelia Earhart have in common? What freed slave passed Jefferson Davis’ secret military information to the Yankees during the Civil War? Because of her efforts, who helped to establish 12 national underwater parks?

Cradles of Eminence: Childhoods of More Than Four Hundred Famous Men and Women

By Victor Goertzel, Mildred Goertzel, Ted Goertzel, and Ariel Hanson

What were the common childhood experiences of 400 eminent adults? This exciting update of the 1964 edition includes new biographies and key findings such as: Most had at least one ambitious, driving parent; Their parents were highly opinionated; Many parents, especially mothers, dominated their children's lives; As children, few liked school or their teachers; Nearly all showed the characteristics used today to identify gifted children.